Blue Throated Macaws

If you're intending to travel with your blue throated macaw OR if you're looking into getting a blue throat macaw and your lifestyle currently has you traveling... you may have some things to think about.

Traveling with a blue throat macaw is very different from traveling with other types of parrots such as an African Grey or Umbrella Cockatoo or even your other types of macaws like a Blue and Gold or Scarlet.

The reason why? Blue Throated Macaws are VERY endangered in the wild.

Which means they are very much protected. This makes traveling with one, even if it's just your pet, very difficult.

When traveling, I work a lot with an organization called CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) for permits in and out of other countries. Import and export permits are usually required for international travel with your exotic birds.

When traveling with exotics you must know the "scientific names" of your parrots as well as which appendix it calls under (1, 2 or 3). And blue throated macaws are under 1 making them the HARDEST to travel with. 3 is easiest and 2 is middle ground.

For more information on obtaining CITES permits in order to travel with your blue throated macaw, follow the following links:

1. Blue Throat Macaw: Appendix 1
2. Obtaining CITES Permits for Your Parrots

Blue Throat Macaws are commonly known as "the mini-blue and gold macaws" because although they look VERY similiar to a blue and gold macaw, they are significantly smaller.

Blue Throats are much more managable because of their size and tend to have very easy-going yet curious personalities and traits. They are NOT known for being aggressive or phobic like other species such as the Scarlet Macaw and African Grey is known.

Because their numbers are so depleted in the wild, they are very expensive to own - as is the case for most exotic pets. A blue throated macaw will run around $2,500 from your average breeder or retailer.

But the real question is... is it worth it?

Coming from a blue throat companion owner... yes! I've had my share of experiences with the larger macaws and blue throats seem to be the PERFECT FIT! Their size is just right and they make very capable and fast flyers. Because of their natural curiousity, playing with toys comes easy and naturally and they love learning.

With all birds, what you put INTO it is what comes out so you can make any companion parrot a keeper but with a blue throat macaw, its size won't be as intimidating as the rest.

They also like to roll around in the wild in order to play with one another making it easy to handle these birds all over their bodies. I can literally touch my blue throat anywhere I want; under the wings, on the head, his belly or feet... because it's natural for him to let another bird do so during play time! They even tend to go onto their backs much more naturally than other species because that is how they tend to want to play.

If you're set on getting a parrot and a macaw is what you want, consider scaling down and getting a blue throated macaw.

Macaws tend to require more nuts in their diet than smaller parrots. Most people think throwing a bowl of seeds in your bird's cage is the right thing to do when reallly... it's literally THE WORST thing you could possibly do for your bird.

The proper diet for your macaw consists of an ORGANIC pellet diet along with plenty of nuts, berries and other fresh foods like carrots, apples, peas, broccoli and more.

Top organic pellet diets on the market today that come HIGHLY recommended for how healthy they are for your bird:

Feed Your Flock Organic Pellet Diet
Harrison's Organic Bird Food

With your bird's pellet diet, the best thing you can do it offer some in a bowl that is easily accessible and most in a "food finding toy" also known as "foraging toys". This makes your bird work for his meal and keeps him busy all day long.

Why Organic? Pellet diets that are NOT organic have too much fat and sugar causing related illnesses in your bird. An unhealthy bird is 10 TIMES more likely to feather pluck, self mutilate, scream and bite.

Here is a list of the most important foods for your macaw to eat to least important (or less of):

1. Vegetables
This includes broccoli, grean beans, peas, carrots, corn, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yams, spinach and more!

2. Beans, Seeds & Legumes
Didn't I just say seeds are bad? I said if it is the ONLY thing you're giving your bird as it's primary diet then yes, it is bad. But birds eat seeds in the wild and still need them in captivity, too.

3. Grains
Things like brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, bread, (cooked) pasta...

4. Fruit
Bananas, apples, oranges, kiwi, mango, watermelon and all types of berries (raspberries, black berries, blue berries, huckleberries).

5. Nuts
Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, cashews, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts...

6. Special Treats
Your bird's favorite foods that he gets the least amount of like yogurt, peanut butter, and cheese. Not very good for them but on occassion won't hurt and sometimes, we can't help but spoiling their guilty pleasures.